Curtain fixture



Aug. 15, 1933. A. F. NYE

CURTAIN FIXTURE Filed Jan. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l A. F. NYE

CURTAIN FIXTURE Aug. 15, 1933.

Filed Jan. 12, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4z'6 ATTO EY Patented Aug. 15, 1933 I CURTAIN FIXTURE G rvin F; ye; Rochester, N. n; assignor, V assignments, of one-half to Harry B. Lawson,

' East Rochester, N. .Y. Y I

by mesne' n A fiucaticnja uar 'iz, 1932'. s am. 586,182 SClaims. ((1156-26) My present invention relates to curtains, shades and the like applicable to windows andsimilar opening s toregulate the entrance of light and illustrating one embodiment'of my-i'nvention;v

and which usually comprise a springor' other roll atthe top fromqwhich the body of the curtain is drawn down into operative positionand upon which it is rewound,-and the invention has for its general object to provide a simple and inexpensive curtain of this character but one of such a-sub'stantial character with regard to its mountings or fittings that it may be' made in relatively large sizes and, though heavy, operated freely and noiselessly-and with a minimum amount of friction. The improvementsjare directed in part toward the provision of a novel anti-friction bearing; and toward arrangements whereby itmay act effectively as a darkcurtain; -To-tliese and other ends, the invention resides in'certain' improvements and c'ombinations of parts, all aswill be hereinafter more fully described, the novel featureswbeing pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification. 'lnthedrawingsrg 1 m,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front-elevation of a. window casing or similar support' gprovidedwith a curtain fitting constructed in accordance with.

2 s a fragmentary enlargement of a portion of Fig. '1; A I

Fig. 3 isan'enl arged, fragment of the curtain edge showing one of theball bearing sockets; 1

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on'the'line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the curtain drawn down to an operative position; e

. Fig. 5 is a similar view, partly in elevation, as to the roll casin'g, showing the curtain wound upon its roll; 7 J Fig. 6 is a further enlarged horizontal section taken substantially on the line6 6 of Fig. 2, and Fig. -7 is a further enlarged fragment of one of the ball bearings shown in Figl l, but taken in vertical section through the socket in the curtain by which it is carried.

I ,Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Although'I have illustrated my invention as applied to a darkening curtain that isopaque and v p 1 This means, inLthe present embodiment, is in i of solid expanse such a's'would be used, for in,- stance, in excluding light from a photographic dark room, itwill berecognized upon further ex} planation of thestructure that it can be utilized in the fitting, for instance, of window mesh screens,

Referring more iindicatesj a window frame or similar support.

particularly to the drawings, 1

Spanning the:.top thereof andsupported suit-i able brackets 2 at the ends, in which ittelescopic'ally' fits, is a substantially semi-cylindrical breast or casing 3. The brackets 2 are secured-to the casing, as by'screws' l. .A winding roll 5, which'is hollow or tubular, 'hasa'central shaft 6 mounted in suitable bearings in the brackets 2 and surrounded: by a suitable coiled winding-tension v spring '7. The ends of this spring arelanchored,

respectively, to the"roll.-5 and the shaft; 6 in the manner of an ordinary shade roll, :so thatlthe spring will tend to windthe roll in one direction and the withdrawal of. acurtain 8 wound thereon from the position of Fig 5 to that of Fig.'.4 will" tension thespring. I have referred to the ele-. mentGas a shaft, but in realityit is a stationary drum or spindle. H Associated withgthe :brackets2 and secured by' screws 9 to'the.si'de rails or uprights of the sup-- porting frame I are a pair of U-shaped guides 10 in'which' the edges of the "curtain '8 travel in a light-tightmanner, in the present specific embode imentof the invention. The screws take through slots 11in the doubled metal plate thatconstitutes thecurtain edges. The opposing elements of eachl guide'ar estampedout to jointly constitute: a sub-t V stantially cylindrical or tubular bearing portion 13 inwhich are accommodated with arolling fit a plurality of Zball bearings 14. These. are carried in sockets 15 formed, in the presentv instance, by

grommets secured at intervals in the edges of the curtain 8 that extend into the guide, as aforesaid.

It will'be seen that when these balls are so in place they provide-a true and anti-friction bearing for the curtain in all directions, which also tends to keep the curtain taut as to its transverse expanse.

To avoidthe difliculty of attempting to wind the ball bearings .1 upon the roll 5, along with the curtain, which, in. any'event', would tremendously increase the diameter of the roll, I provide the same source when the curtain is raised and rewound' .means inconne'ction'with each guide for feeding the form of a curvedtube 16 constituting a mag- ,azine in which the balls 14 are stored, as shown inF'ig. 5. The lower end ormouthof the maga zine opens into the tubular portionj13 of the guide toward which the column of balls are thrust by a ment, as each ball reaches the mouth of the mag azine, it strikes a deflector 20 which thrusts it therein so that the pocket or socketpas'ses empty til into the casing 3 and onto the roll, the balls being again accumulated as in Fig. 5. 'A small guard or lip 21 at the mouth of the magazine associated with the deflector 20, but spaced therefrom a sufficient distance for the curtain to pass between, prevents the balls from a tendency to .follow through because of the pressure of the spring.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a lateral guide, of a curtain arranged to .run with an edge in the guide, said edge being provided with a plurality of sockets, and balls contained in the sockets to cooperate with the guide.

2. Ina device of the character described, the combination with a lateral guide,,of a curtain arranged to run with an edge in the guide, said edge being-provided with a plurality of sockets, balls contained in the sockets to cooperate with the guide, and means for feeding the balls into thesockets as the curtain is runv through the uide.

3-. In a device of the character described, the combination with a lateral guide, of acurtain arranged to run with anedge in the guide, said edge being provided with a plurality of sockets, and a magazine containing balls communicating with the guide to deliver the balls to the sockets, successively, as the curtain passes the magazine in one direction and adapted to receivethe balls from the sockets as the curtain so passes in the opposite direction.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a lateral guide, a flexible curtain arranged to run with an edge in the guide and adapted to be wound upon a roll, said edge being provided with a plurality of sockets, of a magazine containing a plurality of balls for said guide arranged to deliver the balls successively to the respective sockets as the curtain is drawn from the roll, and means for returning the balls to the magazine as the curtain is run back upon the roll. 7 I

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a lateral guide, a flexible curtain arranged to run with an edge in the guide and adapted to be wound upon a roll, said edge being provided with a pluralityof sockets, of a magazine containing a plurality of balls for said guide arranged to deliver the balls successively to the respective sockets as the curtain is drawn from the roll, said magazine embodying a tubular roll with spring means for urging the balls therethrough, and means for returning the balls to the magazine as the curtain is run back upon the roll.

6. In a device of the combination with a lateral guide having a tubular portion, of a curtain arranged to run with an edge in the guide, said edge being provided with a plurality of sockets and balls contained in the sockets and running in the tubular portion of the guide.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a lateral guide having a tubular portion, a flexible curtain arranged to run with an edge in theguide and adapted, to be wound upon a roll, said edge being provided with a plurality of sockets traversing the tubular portion, of a magazine containing a plurality of balls for the guide communicating with the guide to deliver the balls successively to the tubular guide and hence to the respective sockets as the curtain is drawn from the roll, and means for returning the balls to the magazine as the curtain is run back upon the roll. Y

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a lateral guide, a flexible curtain arranged to run with an edge in the guide and adapted to. be wound upon a roll, of means associated with the guide independently of the curtain roll but cooperating with the curtain as it passes from the roll to provide it with an antifriction bearing in the guide.

ALVIN vF. NYE.

character described, the I 

